Frog on a [B]log

Frog on a Blog is the site of children's picture book author Lauri Fortino and her frog friend Finley. You will find oodles of picture book related content on the pages of this blog. If you like to read, write, or share picture books, then you will like this blog! (Image by Jonas Sickler)

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Congratulations to author/illustrator Linh Nguyen-Ng on the release of her new children’s picture book Mommy’s Little Wordlings, published by Anaiah Press. I’m happy to participate in this blog tour to help spread the word about this very special book.

Linh shares her thoughts on agents in the article below, but first, let’s learn a little bit more about Mommy’s Little Wordlings.

Little words hold big meanings. The Little Wordlings are children who use their simple words to express their feelings for loved ones. No one is more adored than the first person who made them smile. No one is more cherished than the person who gave them life. There is no one like Mommy. Join the Little Wordlings as they show Mommy how much she is appreciated and loved.

B. a golden key that allows you entrance through all the silver, gold or even platinum doors.

For me, I would pick the B—the golden key. I believe that having an agent gives you access to opportunities that otherwise might be hidden.

An agent is like your personal cheerleader. He/She loves and believes in your work. Having someone support you on this publishing path is extremely helpful, especially during times when you need advice or suggestions or just someone to discuss your manuscript with.

An agent will try his/her best to sell your manuscript to a publishing house, handling contract negotiations and become the buffer between you and the publisher. Without an agent, there can be friction and confusion between a writer and a publisher. A publisher’s main goal is to make money, a writer’s primary goal is to get the book into print, while maintaining the integrity of the story in the process, and also make some money.

Do authors need an agent to publish a book? The answer is no. Many authors submit directly to the publisher, like I did with my picture book, MOMMY’S LITTLE WORDLINGS. This is ok, especially in the beginning. But I have long term goals, and having an agent will help me achieve those goals a lot faster than doing it myself.

An agent will use their inside knowledge to place it with the right editor. For example, they know editor X at publisher Y doesn’t buy fantasy or horror stories. No point sending it to them – but I could have wasted six months finding that out, with only a cryptic rejection letter to show for it.

It’s like going fishing in either a lake or an ocean. For me, having an agent allows me to cast my net into the vast ocean. I just think there are more fish in the ocean for me to catch. So wish me luck on my quest to find my perfect agent!

Linh Nguyen-Ng–I live with my family in Massachusetts where I get to enjoy the four seasons. I love unique and interesting things—things that make a lasting impression. I am constantly looking for inspiration that I can use in my writing. Everything has a story to tell.

Frog on a [B]log

Frog on a Blog is the site of children's picture book author Lauri Fortino and her frog friend Finley. You will find oodles of picture book related content on the pages of this blog. If you like to read, write, or share picture books, then you will like this blog! (Image by Jonas Sickler)

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